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Celebrating May

Sunday, May 13th, 2012

May receives double billing when it comes to pets and the people who love them. Not only is this Pet Cancer Awareness Month, May also happens to host National Pet Week. In honor of this special month, I have two special offers for you.

Consultations

Over the years, I’ve received many inquiries from readers requesting advice pertaining to their own pet’s health issues. If you are interested in such a consultation, please contact me at Dr.Kay@SpeakingforSpot.com and I will fill you in on the details.

While I am always happy to comply with such requests, it is important for you to know that, without direct hands-on contact with your dog or cat, my consultation must be limited to providing guidance for you. I can help you:

Understand what you have been told by your veterinarian or have learned online
Prioritize your concerns
Figure out what information is needed (help you prepare a list of questions for your veterinarian)
Clarify logical next steps
Work your way through difficult medical decisions while prioritizing what is best for your pet as well as your own peace of mind

I recently received the following feedback from Kim (and Ollie) and am sharing it with you to clarify how a consultation might be helpful:

Dear Dr. Nancy,

It was really nice talking to you. I needed it more than you can imagine. I really felt that you would understand both the anesthesia and knee issues and the shock and emotional reaction I have been feeling. And you did exactly what I needed – validated my concerns, honed right in on important facts even though our history (and no doubt my explanation) has been a long and confusing one, offered clear, direct opinions, and gave me a strategy for my next steps (with extra emphasis on key points so I really understood them). That means so much to me. I really appreciate your guidance in our challenging situation. Ollie is the happiest creature that I have ever known. He is much-loved by family, friends, neighbors… he is really a special boy (and so cute it is ridiculous). I will definitely be in touch and let you know how we are doing and what we learn. Thank you so much again.

Best,

Kim & Ollie

Two-For-One Book Sales

In honor of this special month, between now and the end of May, I invite you to buy two of my books for the price of one. Purchase Speaking for Spot or Your Dog’s Best Health and get a second book (either title) at no extra charge. (If applicable, the price will be based on the more expensive book.) To take advantage of this May special, please use this link for the Two-for-One purchase page. The May special is not available on the regular purchase page.

Will you be doing anything with your pets to honor this special month? If so, I would love to hear about it.

Best wishes,

Nancy Kay, DVM

Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Author of Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life
Author of Your Dog’s Best Health: A Dozen Reasonable Things to Expect From Your Vet
Recipient, Leo K. Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award
Recipient, American Animal Hospital Association Animal Welfare and Humane Ethics Award
Recipient, Dog Writers Association of America Award for Best Blog
Recipient, Eukanuba Canine Health Award
Recipient, AKC Club Publication Excellence Award
Become a Fan of Speaking for Spot on Facebook

Please visit http://www.speakingforspot.com to read excerpts from Speaking for Spot and Your Dog’s Best Health. There you will also find “Advocacy Aids”- helpful health forms you can download and use for your own dog, and a collection of published articles on advocating for your pet’s health. Speaking for Spot and Your Dog’s Best Health are available at www.speakingforspot.com, Amazon.com, local bookstores, and your favorite online book seller.

Tags: Dr. Nancy Kay, Nancy Kay DVM, National Pet Week, Pet Cancer Awareness Month, Speaking for Spot, Your Dog's Best Health
Posted in Cancer Diagnosis in Dogs, Canine Cancer, Dog health, Second opinions, Speaking for Spot, Veterinary Office Visits, Your Dog's Best Health | 3 Comments »

Caring for a Rescued Puppy Mill Breeding Dog

Sunday, April 22nd, 2012

As discussed in last week’s blog, rescued puppy mill breeding dogs come with a whole lot of emotional baggage. Fear is the number one issue- fear of people, other animals, and new sights and sounds. Should you decide to foster or adopt a rescued puppy mill breeding dog, how can you help her adjust to her new life? Here are some pointers for creating an emotional environment to help your new dog feel safer.

-Enter the process with realistic expectations. Understand that your rescued dog may not ever be a “normal” pet in terms of her trainability and responses to new people, other animals, places, and things.

-Patience is a virtue as progress may feel exceedingly slow at times. Do your best to avoid pushing your new dog past her comfort level.

-It can help to have another, well-adjusted dog in the household to role model healthy emotional responses.

-Be sensitive to your dog’s reactions. It’s not a given that your puppy mill rescue will react positively to being held or cuddled. Some dogs prefer more physical distance.

-In order to acclimate your dog to strangers, recruit your dog loving friends and relatives to come over, one at a time. They should enter your home in a quiet and gentle fashion, allowing your dog to approach them on her own terms.

-Find a reputable trainer who enjoys working with fearful dogs. Such an individual will be an invaluable coach for both you and your dog.

-There have been plenty of books written about working with fearful dogs. Ask your trainer for his or her recommendations.

Rescued puppy mill breeding dogs are certainly not for everyone. Boy, oh boy, caring for them properly is a lot of work and requires so much patience. The reward for all that hard work and patience is the opportunity to observe a battered little soul slowly emerge from its shell and experience what life can be for a dog who is loved.

Have you ever fostered or adopted a puppy mill breeding dog? Any words of advice?

Best wishes,

Nancy Kay, DVM

Tags: Dog trainer, Dr. Nancy Kay, DVM, fearful behavior, Nancy Kay, Puppy mills. Puppy mill breeding dogs, Speaking for Spot, Your Dog's Best Health
Posted in Adoptions, Puppies, Puppy Mills, Reputable breeder, rescue organizations, Speaking for Spot, Your Dog's Best Health | 21 Comments »

Puppy Mill Breeding Dogs: Proof of the Psychological Price They Pay

Sunday, April 15th, 2012

Fearful dog by Noiseburst on Flickr I recently spoke at the annual conference of the American Animal Hospital Association where I reconnected with an old friend, Dr. Frank McMillan. We were small animal medicine residents at UC Davis together back in the day. Dr. McMillan’s professional journey has been an interesting one. Most notably, he has become a passionate, world renowned expert on the emotional well being of animals.

Dr. McMillan’s research on puppy mill breeding dogs was recently published in Journal of Applied Animal Behaviour Science. In his study called, “Mental health of dogs formerly used as ‘breeding stock’ in commercial breeding establishments” he compared the psychological and behavioral characteristics of 1,169 rescued former puppy mill dogs with those of 332 pet dogs without a mill history. The most striking difference between the two groups was in their fear level. Dogs originating from puppy mills exhibited far more fear in response to people, other dogs, stairs, and touch. For many of these dogs, an increased fear response continued even after years spent in their adoptive households. Dr. McMillan’s research also documented that the puppy mill dogs demonstrated more house-soiling and compulsive behavior as well as reduced trainability, energy, and aggression towards other animals.

Dr. McMillan and his coauthors discussed two likely causes for the behaviors demonstrated by the puppy mill dogs. The first cause, known as “stress-induced psychopathology” refers to behavioral responses to stressors such as spatial restriction (confinement to a small space), extreme temperatures, aversive interactions with humans, lack of ability to avoid or regulate exposure to aversive stimuli, and limited access to positive social interactions with humans and other dogs. Most if not all of these stressors certainly come into play in most large scale breeding operations.

Also discussed as a cause for behavioral abnormalities in puppy mill dogs was inadequate socialization during the first few months of life (the critical period for normal socialization to develop). For puppy mill breeding dogs, most of this sensitive developmental time period is spent behind bars with little to no exposure to psychologically “nutritious” environmental surroundings.

For those who work with rescued puppy mill breeding dogs, none of Dr. McMillan’s conclusions come as a surprise. It’s common knowledge that such dogs are damaged by years of emotional negligence. The true importance of this study is that it provides the very first scientifically documented proof that conditions prevailing in puppy mills are profoundly detrimental to the emotional well being of dogs imprisoned there. This research is one more arrow in our quiver as we do whatever we can to exterminate puppy mills. Kudos to you Dr. McMillan for the important work you are doing!

Best wishes,

Nancy Kay, DVM

Tags: American Animal Hospital Association, canine behavior, commercial breeding establishment, dog behavior, Dr. Frank McMillan, Dr. Franklin McMillan, Dr. Nancy Kay, DVM, emotional well being, fearful behavior, Journal of Applied Animal Behaviour Science, mental health of dogs, Nancy Kay, puppy mill breeding dogs, puppy mills, puppy socialization, Speaking for Spot, stress-induced psychopathology, UC Davis, Your Dog's Best Health
Posted in Adoptions, puppy mills, rescue organizations, Speaking for Spot, Your Dog's Best Health | 15 Comments »

Our Pets: Property or Family Members?

Sunday, April 1st, 2012

Photo Credit: Blair O'Neil

A number of recent court cases have debated the issue of financial compensation for emotional damages stemming from the negligent loss of a pet. While court systems within the United States view our furry and feathered family members as “property” at least in some instances, judges are beginning to regard them as a “special” type of property. At least the cases are being heard rather than kicked out of the courtroom.

Consider the following three examples:

A lawsuit in Clearwater, Florida called for the court to award $15,000 in emotional damages to Liza Baceols. Her beloved Golden Retriever Cody was hospitalized in order to remove a growth on his tail. Following the surgery, Cody chewed at and removed the remaining portion of his tail. He subsequently died during a second surgery to repair the damage. Ms. Baceols claimed that the veterinary staff provided inadequate supervision following the initial surgery. The week-long court proceedings ended in mistrial because of a deadlocked jury.

The Raleigh, North Carolina Court of Appeals weighed in on the wrongful death suit of a Jack Russell Terrier named Laci cared for by Nancy and Herb Shera. Laci passed away because of complications caused by incorrect technique when placing a feeding tube. The Sheras asked for $28,000 in damages, and the party sued was North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. In a 20-page ruling, the appeals court unanimously upheld an earlier verdict in which the Sheras were awarded $2,755 in veterinary bills plus $350 to pay for a new dog of the same breed.

In Texas, Kathryn and Jeremy Medlen’s dog Avery escaped from the family backyard and was picked up by the local animal control organization. Before the Medlens could retrieve their dog and despite a “hold for owner” tag, Avery was euthanized. The Medlen’s prevailed in the courtroom due to a Texas law stating, “where personal property has little or no market value, and its main value is in sentiment, damages may be awarded based on this intrinsic or sentimental value.” It’s interesting to note that, despite the ruling, Avery’s status was never deemed to be anything other than “property.”

How do we all feel about the legal designation of pets as property? It’s a given that outside of the courtroom, we all view our pets to be family members- after all, would I be a weekly pet blogger and would you be a weekly pet blog reader if we didn’t view our animals this way?

So what could be the downside to court rulings that treat pets as family members and award emotional damages on the basis of negligent loss? Consider what Paul Boudloche, an attorney representing the animal control organization in the Avery Medlen case had to say:

I think it’s going to have a significant impact on the private sector, particularly veterinarians, kennel owners, even individuals who take care of their neighbors’ pets. I mean, for example, on veterinarians, things which would be routine care for a pet, now they have to practice much more defensive medicine. The value of a dog has changed in the eye of the law. So, if mistakes happen, the exposure for everybody is much greater.

Veterinarians, veterinary technicians, groomers, pet sitters, boarding facility employees- each and every one of us who assumes responsibility for another person’s pet will undoubtedly, at some point in time, make a mistake. And sometimes those mistakes result in dire consequences. Combine this with the fact that we live in a litigious society and it’s easy to predict skyrocketing malpractice costs, should courts begin awarding damages for pain and suffering caused by the loss of a pet. Currently, on average, veterinarians pay less than $1,000 a year for malpractice insurance. Just imagine if insurance premiums begin to approach what some medical doctors pay- in the range of $100,000 or more per year!

When veterinarians and others who care animals are forced to pay more for malpractice liability, there’s no question how such expense will be recouped. Richard Cupp, a Pepperdine University law professor stated:

If courts routinely start to award emotional damages to pet owners, veterinary care will cost more, leading to more suffering among pets because fewer pets will get sent to the vet.

So, where is the compromise between treating our pets as property and prohibitively expensive malpractice premiums? Consider the legislation called “Gracie’s Law” proposed by Dr. Kenneth Newman, a veterinarian in Florida. His own Labrador Gracie died due to injuries caused by a negligent driver. When attempting to recoup losses for pain and suffering, he ran head-on into the reality that the court viewed Gracie as nothing more than property. According to “Gracie’s Law” people who suffer as Dr. Newman did would be allowed emotional damages of up to $25,000. Perhaps Dr. Newman’s proposed ceiling on damages would serve as a reasonable compromise.

How do you weigh in on this topic? Should courtroom monetary awards exceed the replacement value of a pet? If so, how should the amount of money be determined? How should pet professionals deal with escalating insurance premiums? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Best wishes,

Nancy Kay, DVM

Tags: Avery Medlen, Dr. Kenneth Newman, Dr. Nancy KayNancy Kay, DVM, Emotional damage, Gracie’s Law, Herb Shera, human-animal bond, Jeremy Medlen, Kathryn Medlen, Liza Baceols, Malpractice, Malpractice insurance, Nancy Shera, North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine, Paul Boudloche, Pepperdine University, Richard Cupp, Speaking for Spot, Your Dog's Best Health
Posted in Canine family members, Dr. Nancy Kay, human-animal bond, Speaking for Spot, Your Dog's Best Health | 26 Comments »

Three Essential Steps for Maintaining Your Dog’s Health

Sunday, March 25th, 2012

As mentioned in my last blog post, the American Animal Hospital Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association recently teamed up to create Guidelines for Canine and Feline Preventive Healthcare. These guidelines have been distributed to veterinarians throughout the United States with hopes of enhancing their efforts to counsel their clients about disease prevention.

Last week, I provided you with a tour of the preventive guidelines for feline health care. Rather than review the entirety of the guidelines for you dog lovers (I encourage you to do this on your own), from them I’ve selected three that I consider to be most important.

An Annual Physical Examination

In the past, veterinarians have done a remarkably good job using vaccine postcards and emails to remind their clients to schedule visits. The downside is, clients have been inadvertently programmed to believe that vaccinations are the most, if not the only, important part of their dog’s regular visits. Now that adult core vaccinations are required only once every three years (rather than once a year), it’s no surprise that veterinarians have observed a marked decline in annual office visits.

An annual physical examination is a key ingredient for maintaining your pet’s good health. It provides the opportunity for discussion about nutrition, behavioral issues, parasite control, and anything else that warrants veterinary advice. Additionally, an annual physical allows for early disease detection and treatment. It’s a no-brainer that the earlier cancer is detected, the better the outcome. The same holds true for heart disease, kidney disease, periodontal disease, and a myriad of other medical issues that might be detected during a routine physical exam. Here’s the bottom line, get your pet to the vet once a year, no matter what!

Heartworm Prevention

Heartworm disease has now been documented in all 50 of the United States. This parasitic infection is spread from one dog to another by way of mosquitoes. Heartworms set up housekeeping primarily within the heart and the blood vessels within the lungs where they are capable of wreaking havoc. Treatment for this disease isn’t always successful and carries significant potential for negative side effects. To make matters worse, there is a worldwide shortage of Immiticide®, currently the only approved drug to treat heartworm disease. And, while it’s tempting to believe that your dog’s thick haircoat or primarily indoor lifestyle will be protective againt heartworm disease, statistics prove otherwise. There, have I adequately made my case for use of heartworm prevention?

There are a number of safe and effective medications on the market that effectively prevent canine heartworm disease. Talk with your veterinarian about the incidence of heartworm disease in your community to determine if prevention is warranted. If recommended, please use the product exactly as prescribed. Lack of compliance is the number one reason dogs receiving heartworm prevention develop the disease. To learn more about heartworm disease, visit the website of The American Heartworm Society.

Counseling on Behavioral Issues

The number one reason dogs are euthanized or relinquished to shelters is problematic behavior. Separation anxiety, aggression, failed housetraining- these are just a few of the reasons people give up on their pets. I recently worked with a client for the first time whose adorable six-year-old Schnauzer Molly has kidney failure. In an, “Oh, by the way” comment, she told me that she and Molly never, ever spend time apart because of separation anxiety. Left alone, sweet little Molly assumes the role of demolition artist. When I asked Molly’s mom if she’d ever mentioned this problem to her family vet, she sheepishly shook her head. She was unaware that discussion with her veterinarian would result in referral to a “vetted” trainer and a prescription for medication designed specifically for the treatment of canine separation anxiety.

Be sure to talk with your vet about any of your pet’s behavioral issues just as soon as they become apparent. The sooner such problems can be nipped in the bud, the better the outcome will be.

Does your dog receive an annual physical examination? Are you administering heartworm preventive medication? Have you discussed your dog’s behavior issues with your veterinarian? Do tell!

Best wishes,

Nancy Kay, DVM

Tags: American Animal Hospital Association, American Veterinary Medical Association, Annual physical examination, Behavior issues, Canine aggression, disease prevention, Dog trainer, Dr. Nancy Kay, Guidelines for Canine and Feline Preventive Healthcare, Heartworm disease, Hearworm prevention, House training, Immiticide, Nancy Kay DVM, Separation anxiety, Speaking for Spot, The American Heartworm Society, Vaccine reminder postcards, vaccines, Your Dog's Best Health
Posted in Canine family members, Canine Symptoms, Dog health, Dr. Nancy Kay, Speaking for Spot, Veterinary Office Visits, Your Dog's Best Health | 9 Comments »

Pet Poisons

Sunday, March 11th, 2012

The telephone call I hope you never have to make is to a pet poison control center. If the situation does arise, however, I hope you will have the appropriate contact information close at hand.

Two poison control organizations that I strongly recommend, and which are available to you 24/7 are the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-426-4435) and the Pet Poison Helpline (1-800-213-6680). If uncertain if your pet has ingested or been exposed to something that is toxic, call one of these organizations right away. You will either be fully reassured or instructed on what course of action to take.

The Pet Poison Helpline recently released their “top ten list” of toxicities based on calls received during 2011. They are ranked below in order of frequency:

Top Ten Toxins Reported in 2011 Helpline Calls

Foods- specifically chocolate, xylitol, grapes, and raisins.
Insecticides- sprays, bait stations, and spot on flea and tick treatments.
Rodenticides (mouse and rat poisons). By the way, rodenticides pose the potential for relay toxicity- pets can be poisoned by eating rodents that have died from the toxin.
Human nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen and naproxen.
Household cleaning products (all the more reason I don’t like to clean- could be harmful for my pets!).
Antidepressant drugs prescribed for people (Prozac, Paxil, Celexa, and Effexor).
Fertilizers including bone meal, blood meal, and iron based products.
Acetaminophen which is the active ingredient in Tylenol and many over the counter cough and cold remedies.
Amphetamine based human drugs including Adderall and Concerta.
Veterinary nonsteroidal antiinflammatory medications (particularly those that are in tasty chewable tablet form) including Rimadyl, Deramaxx, and Previcox.

Just for fun, I will provide you with two other top ten lists created by the Pet Poison Helpline.

Top Ten Breeds Involved in 2011 Helpline Calls

Mixed breeds
Labrador Retrievers (Why am I not surprised!)
Golden Retrievers
Chihuahuas
Yorkshire Terriers
Dachshunds
ShihTzus
Boxers
Beagles
German Shepherds

Top Ten Dog Names Involved in 2011 Helpline Calls

Bella
Lucy
Max
Molly
Daisy
Bailey
Charlie
Lily
Maggie
Sadie and Buddy were tied for tenth place!

Have you ever had to call a poison control center for your pet? If so, please tell us about your experience.

Best wishes,

Nancy Kay, DVM

Tags: acetaminophen, Adderall, amphetamines, ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, blood meal, bone meal, chocolate, Concerta, Deramaxx, dog health, Dr. Nancy Kay, fertilizers, grapes, household cleaning products, ibuprofen, insecticides, iron based products, Nancy Kay DVM, naproxen, pet care, pet health care, pet poison control center, Pet Poison Helpline, Previcox, raisins, Rimadyl, rodenticides, Speaking for Spot, Tylenol, xylitol, Your Dog's Best Health
Posted in Animal Poison Control Center, Canine Symptoms, Speaking for Spot, Veterinary Emergency, Your Dog's Best Health | 12 Comments »

A Primer on Diabetes Insipidus

Sunday, March 4th, 2012

Photo Credit: Susannah Kay

Mention the word diabetes, and one thinks of insulin injections and blood sugar levels. This is because diabetes mellitus (aka, sugar diabetes) is so darned prevalent in people, dogs, and cats. But did you know that there is another version of diabetes, one that has absolutely no impact on blood sugar levels? It is called diabetes insipidus (DI). This form of diabetes is far less common, but as it happens, I diagnosed two patients (one dog and one cat) with DI within the last week. Go figure! As things tend to happen in “threes” I expect my third patient with DI will walk through the door next week!

Diabetes insipudus occurs when the kidneys are unable to conserve water. Under normal circumstances, the kidneys retain some of the water within the bloodstream for use within the body while eliminating the rest within the urine. This nifty little water conservation system is controlled by a hormone called vasopressin (aka, ADH or antidiuretic hormone). Vasopressin is produced within the brain’s hypothalamus. It is then stored and released from the pituitary gland, also within the brain. Now here’s the really cool part. There are sensors in the body that control exactly how much vasopressin is released into the blood stream after detecting exactly how much water the body needs. For example, if you are hiking in Death Valley and it is 110 degrees, your pituitary gland will release lots of vasopressin so that you produce minimal urine. Likewise, if you’ve just chugged a gallon of water, vasopressin release will be turned off thereby allowing your kidneys to “turn on the faucets.”

Diabetes insipidus occurs when vasopression is no longer released from the pituitary gland. Affected dogs and cats produce copious volumes of urine, and all that water loss results in profound thirst. Their dilute urine looks more like water than urine. In addition, affected animals are prone to urinary accidents, saturation of their litter boxes on a daily basis, and the inability to make it through the night without urinating. Under such circumstances, people are sometimes tempted to restrict their pet’s water intake. This can be disastrous- even with water withheld, massive amounts of urine will continue to be produced and the animal will quickly become dehydrated. Fortunately, most animals with DI who are deprived of water will drive their humans crazy until they relent and fill the water bowl.

The diagnosis or DI is made by first ruling out other diseases that can cause increased thirst and urine output including: kidney disease, liver disease, urinary tract infections, diabetes mellitus and other hormonal imbalances. The diagnosis is then confirmed based on a positive response to vasopressin therapy.

Trauma, infection, and cancer affecting the region of the hypothalamus/pituitary gland are all potential causes of DI. However, most cases of DI turn out to be idiopathic (an underlying cause cannot be determined). If your dog or cat has DI, your veterinarian will want to perform a thorough neurological examination. If neurological abnormalities are detected, a brain scan (MRI or CT) and collection of spinal fluid for analysis may be recommended.

The treatment for DI is vasopressin replacement therapy. This hormone is available in tablet and nasal spray formulations. The nasal spray must be fitted with an adaptive nozzle that allows application of the liquid as eye drops. Typically, marked reduction in water intake and urine output are observed within a few days to a week after beginning therapy. Other than the need to give daily, lifelong medication, the major drawback of treatment is that vasopressin is pretty darned pricey. It definitely pays to shop around at a number of pharmacies to obtain the best price. Barring no significant underlying brain disease, the prognosis for a patient with DI is excellent, and that’s definitely something that we internists don’t get to say frequently enough!

Have you any experience with diabetes insipidus? If so, please share what you know.

Best wishes,

Nancy Kay, DVM

Tags: antidiuretic hormone, blood sugar levels, diabetes, diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, Dog care, dog health, dog health care, Dr. Nancy Kay, insulin, insulin injections, kidneys, Nancy Kay DVM, pituitary gland, Speaking for Spot, vasopressin, Your Dog's Best Health
Posted in Canine Symptoms, Important Questions to Ask You Vet, Speaking for Spot, Veterinary Diagnostic Procedures, Veterinary Specialists, Your Dog's Best Health | 1 Comment »

A Response From Gorham, New York

Monday, February 27th, 2012

Many of you have been following the recent approval allowing a husband and wife puppy mill team to open a new 500-dog breeding kennel within the town of Gorham, New York. Mr. Doug Negley, a councilman for the Town of Gorham read my blog post and reached out to me for some candid conversation. During our talk it became clear to me that Mr. Negley is a true dog lover and that he was surprised by the rapid action taken by his town’s planning commission. Mr. Negley told me that he remains unclear whether or not the decision to approve the puppy mill can be reversed.

Prior to this Gorham chaos (town leaders have been inundated with phone calls and emails), Mr. Negley admits that he was unfamiliar with the horrors of puppy mills. You can trust that I provided him with a solid education during the course of our telephone call. I asked Mr. Negley to provide me with his point of view in writing, something I could share with you, my readers. Here are his thoughts:

Dr. Nancy Kay,

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on your blog of February 9, 2012 “Shame on you Gorham NY.”

Your perception of “commercial kennels/puppy mills” is right on — this is a national if not international problem. In the last paragraph you mentioned learn what’s going on where you live. Educate others on “commercial kennels/puppy mills.” I would like to add instead of buying a new pup consider rescuing a dog.

On your comment “I suspect that the Gorham town board members have their eyes focused on the prize. Can you imagine the tax revenue stream from the sale of thousands and thousands of purebred puppies?” New York State law currently exempts USDA Class A “commercial kennels/puppy mills” from local dog licensing. Yes, that’s right Gorham receives nothing for this type of operation. And these breeders do not contribute to the state spay and neuter program to help low income people spay and neuter their pets, even though, each year they are contributing to the numbers of unwanted dogs.

As for this town board member’s eyes, they are focused on:

1)   The best for residents of the town of Gorham.

2)   Using education because it is the best weapon against puppy mills.

3)   Build a case supported by facts against puppy mills.

4)   Then take action at both state & federal level.

There is no reason why, over time as a society, we can’t get rid of such operations. I would like to help in their eradication. Like many topics the public is ignorant of this practice, me included.

I have thought about and continue to research the concept of “commercial kennels / puppy mills.”  I do not like the idea of having a facility in our town. However, if Gorham is going to be saddled with this business I want a golden pig with lipstick, not just another pig.

Thanks again, to be continued.

Respectively submitted,

Doug Negley, Councilman for the Town of Gorham

Mr. Negley told me that he would be happy to respond to your comments. Let’s keep it civilized!

Best wishes,

Nancy Kay, DVM

Tags: Canandaigua Messenger Post, Curtis Martin, Doug Negley, Dr. Nancy Kay, Gorham, Jolene Martin, Nancy Kay DVM, New York, puppy millers, puppy mills, Speaking for Spot, Town of Gorham Councilman, USDA, veterinary school, Your Dog's Best Health
Posted in Animal Abuse, Animal Welfare, puppy mills, Puppy Mills, Speaking for Spot, Your Dog's Best Health | 26 Comments »

Shame On You Gorham, New York!

Thursday, February 9th, 2012

I read the article in the Canandaigua Messenger A with disbelief. It appears that the town of Gorham, New York is rolling out the red carpet for a large-scale puppy mill expected to house 500 breeding dogs (yes, you read this correctly, there will be 500). The proprietors, Curtis and Jolene Martin are not new to puppy milling. In fact, they have been previously cited for their work- busted by the USDA for violations such as rodent droppings in whelping boxes, sick and injured dogs on the premises, and inadequate staffing.

Mr. Martin maintains that he is not into mass breeding just for the money. He states:

We don’t just produce as many puppies as we can, that’s not our goal. Yes, we do have to do that but it’s not the main reason we’re in it. We’re in it for the animals.

Have a look at the minutes from the December 19, 2012 Town of Gorham Planning Board Meeting. Be forewarned, reading these minutes made me feel sick inside. There was plenty of discussion

Photo Credit: Diana Gerba

about numbers of dogs (not to worry, puppies don’t take up much room), noise prevention (not to worry, the dogs will be housed completely indoors with plenty of sound-proofing), and composting and burying of dead dogs (not to worry, there will be enough containment so as to prevent water contamination in the neighborhood). Never once during the lengthy discussion did a single board member question how the dogs would be exercised, how they would be fed, what size cages would be provided, or how the emotional needs of the dogs would be met. Was there not a single dog lover in that boardroom?

I’m not naïve enough to believe that what’s happening in Gorham, New York isn’t happening in many other towns throughout the United States. Perhaps this situation strikes a particularly sensitive nerve because it is happening in the state where I attended veterinary school and received an extraordinary education. On the one hand New York trains veterinarians to care adeptly and compassionately for dogs. With the other hand they welcome the abuse of dogs. I suspect that the Gorham town board members have their eyes focused on the prize. Can you imagine the tax revenue stream from the sale of thousands and thousands of purebred puppies?

What can you do to help stop such madness? If you happen to live in the vicinity of Gorham, New York please contact city and county officials there to find out what would be needed to change their minds about welcoming the Martins or any other puppy millers into your community.

If you don’t live in or near Gorham, but feel fired up about what is going on there please put that energy to good use. Puppy mills exist throughout the United States. Learn more about what is happening in your neck of the woods and begin a letter writing campaign, organize a peaceful protest, educate a classroom of children about puppy mills, counsel a friend or relative who is ready to purchase a purebred pup on how to find a reputable breeder or rescue organization. Never ever purchase a pup from a pet store or online site and sight unseen. Feel free to share this blog post. Every little bit helps. One less purchase from a puppy mill brings us one step closer to their eradication.

How do you feel after reading the minutes from Town of Gorham Planning Board Meeting?

Best wishes,

Nancy Kay, DVM

Tags: Canandaigua Messenger Post, Curtis Martin, Dr. Nancy Kay, Gorham, Jolene Martin, Nancy Kay DVM, New York, puppy millers, puppy mills, Speaking for Spot, USDA, veterinary school, Your Dog's Best Health
Posted in Animal Abuse, Animal Welfare, puppy mills, Puppy Mills, Speaking for Spot, Your Dog's Best Health | 32 Comments »

A Heads Up About Novartis Products

Saturday, February 4th, 2012

Boy, oh boy, am I glad I am not the CEO of Novartis Pharmaceuticals right now. On January 9^th of this year the company issued a voluntary recall of some of their over-the-counter human products including Excedrin, NoDoz, Gas-X Prevention Products, and Bufferin. It seems that these medications contained stray tablets, capsules, or caplets from other Novartis drugs including prescription painkillers manufactured at the same facility.

Now veterinarians are involved in the ruckus with the announcement that the following drugs are/soon will be on back order:

Interceptor Flavor Tabs® (heartworm preventive)

Sentinel Flavor Tabs® (flea control product)

Program Tablets and Suspension® (flea control product)

MilbeMite® (medication to treat ear mites)

Deramaxx® (pain relief medication)

The explanation for the backorders is closure of a Novartis manufacturing facility in Lincoln, Nebraska. The details are murky as of yet, but interruption of the manufacture of such top selling drugs typically means one thing and one thing only. I suspect that Novartis has been busted for being sloppy, perhaps as related to the recent recall of some of their big-name over-the-counter human products.

Such sloppiness seems to have spilled over to the Novartis animal health division as evidenced by the following letter recently delivered to veterinarians about Clomicalm®, a medication to treat separation anxiety in dogs:

Dear Doctor:

Novartis Animal Health US, Inc. is committed to delivering safe and efficacious veterinary products, and would like to inform you about a recent development involving CLOMICALM® (clomipramine hydrochloride) tablets.

Due to potential packaging issues at our manufacturing facility, there is a rare possibility that a wrong tablet may be found in bottles of CLOMICALM. Novartis has not received any reports where a patient experienced a product mix-up, nor has Novartis received any adverse events attributable to a product mix-up. However, as a precautionary measure, we would like to extend the following recommendations.

Before dispensing CLOMICALM, open each bottle and examine the contents for tablets that are broken or incorrect in color, shape or size (visual guide included).

Post a copy of the Dear Valued Customer letter issued by Novartis Animal Health in your clinic (copy included).

Distribute copies of the Dear Valued Customer letter to affected pet owners. Novartis Animal Health will send your clinic extra copies upon request. If you publish a clinic newsletter, please consider using the provided notice.

Report any abnormal findings to Novartis Animal Health at 800-637-0281.

Return affected product to Novartis Animal Health; call the aforementioned number for full details.

Inform your clients who have already received CLOMICALM® to examine tablets and refrain from administering any that are questionable in color, shape or size; and to contact Novartis Animal Health to discuss product return of affected bottles.

Keep records of communication with pet owners in patient files.

Ensure that any re-packaged tablet bottles are labeled with the product lot number.

Novartis Animal Health requests that you complete and return the enclosed Response Card reflecting that you have read and understand these points, and have discussed them with your clients.

Canine separation anxiety is a complex disorder that has great bearing on patient quality of life and the human-companion animal bond. Uninterrupted treatment is essential for successful management of this condition. Our veterinarians are prepared to discuss best practices with you in the event patients require alternative therapies, in order to minimize the risk of adverse events and potential relapse of signs.

We thank you for your attention and cooperation regarding this important issue. If you have any further questions, please contact Technical Product Services and Pharmacovigilance at 1-800-637-0281.

My response to a letter like this is, “Oy vey!” although I admit to being excited about adding the word “pharmacovigilance” to my repertoire!

So, what does this mean for you and your pets? If you are treating your dog or cat with a product manufactured by Novartis Animal Health, I strongly encourage you to call or email your veterinarian to plan a course of action. If need be, he or she may recommend an alternative so as to avoid any interruption in your pet’s therapy.

Is your dog or cat currently taking a Novartis product? If so, which one?

Best wishes,

Nancy Kay, DVM

Tags: Bufferin, Clomicalm, Deramaxx, Dog care, dog health care, Dr. Nancy Kay, Excedrin, FDA inspection, Gas-X, Interceptor Flavor Tabs, MilbeMite, Nancy Kay DVM, NoDoz, Novartis Animal Health, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, pet medications, pharmacovigilance, Program Tablets and Suspension, Sentinel Flavor Tabs, Speaking for Spot, Your Dog's Best Health
Posted in Medications, Nancy Kay DVM, Product Recall, Speaking for Spot, Veterinary Office Visits, Your Dog's Best Health | 14 Comments »

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